An electrician's best friend!
Whether you are an established or inexperienced electrician, you must have the right tools at your disposal to carry out an electrical project. In the world of electrical work, a job is never done right unless it’s done using the right tools. Not only does having the right tools help you to work relatively faster, but gives you the confidence to work comfortably and safely.
Even though having the knowledge and experience may go a long way towards accomplishing your tasks quite easily, they can’t guarantee your physical protection against the potential dangers of electricity. This is one of the reasons why you need the right electrician tools.
Due to the advancements in technology, today we have a whole host of electrician tools which you can use to enhance the efficiency of the job. The market is filled with tools that claim to help make your job relatively easier.
However, choosing the right tools can prove to be a daunting task. Of course, there are a couple of things that you need to take into account when choosing the best electrician tools. These include things such as durability, comfort, safety and affordability. Always go for high-end products that can serve you for decades. Furthermore, you must have relevant knowledge on how to operate these essential machines.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the main tools for electricians.
- Voltage tester
We are all aware of the dangers associated with working with electricity. You cannot start to work on an electrical project before you cut off power in key segments of your home. A voltage tester enables you to test your outlets and see whether they are active or not.
Even after completing the job, you’ll still need this handy tool to confirm whether power has been restored or not. It is imperative to note that on most electrical work, you’ll need to carry out a quick safety check to examine if a particular circuit is live or if there is current passing through a particular electrical object. A voltage detector is a must-have tool for nearly all types of electrical projects.
- Wire stripper
Virtually all electrical work involves working with wires. A wire stripper allows you to strip off the insulation on electrical cables with ease and efficiency. Don’t use a lineman’s pliers or cabling knives because they are likely to nick into the wires. Instead, use a wire stripper to achieve your tasks correctly. Wire strippers often feature carefully-sized stripping notches which enable them to remove insulation from wires perfectly without causing any damage to them.
- Protective eyewear
You are always exposed to many things that can potentially cause damage to your eye. You don’t want to end up with foreign particles in your eye and that is the reason you must equip yourself with high-quality protective eyewear. With this at your disposal, the dangers posed by flying sparks, the drywall dust as well as other forms of debris will be kept at bay.
- Multimeter
A multimeter is an essential all-purpose tester used to measure resistance, current, and voltages in electrical circuits. What’s more, it can be used to identify the potential causes of power fluctuation such as poor wiring. With this device, you’ll be able to identify exactly where the fault may be coming from and which wires may potentially need replacing.
- Insulated gloves
Because of the high risk of electrocution, electricians need to be serious with their own safety. Insulated gloves offer adequate protection against shocks and electrocution. If you are a serious and cautious electrician, you must have them in your toolkit.
They are available in a broad range of styles and models and you can always invest in the best product that suits your needs such as budget and comfort. In addition, you should have a flame retardant work shirt. This will protect you from electrical fires because they are designed to resist fire-starting sparks. They also prevent severe burn injuries.
- Cordless drill
This is equally a critical tool that electricians must have in their toolkit. Electricians are always tasked with drilling and installing new fixtures on components. Consequently, they may be required to disassemble installed fixtures to access wiring. An electric drill makes it easy for them to execute any of these tasks with minimal effort.
- Screwdrivers
These are arguably the most used tools by electricians. They have a wide range of applications but the most common ones are fastening and loosening the various parts of equipment. Modern screwdriver sets are not only versatile but are highly adaptable and feature interchangeable bits which allow users to work effortlessly.
- Pliers
According to a study, pliers are one of the most common tools electricians cannot work without. You’ll need side-cutting pliers, needle-nose and perhaps long-nose pliers. Depending on the size and level of your work, you may also need the high-leverage side-cutting pliers ideal for connector crimping and perhaps heavy duty cutting. As always, choose pliers that enhance both the feel and gripping power. A long nose plier will help you reach narrow and difficult to reach areas to make things easier.
These are some of the most important tools that an electrician must have. Of course, there are others that may be required, depending on the job which includes:
- Extension ladder
- Tape measure
- Drywall saw
- Retractable trimming knife
- Leveler
Purchasing electrician tools to do DIY tasks yourself is a heavy and expensive investment. Especially when you want to buy tools and equipment that will last you a lifetime. Having the knowledge to use them efficiently is another thing.
That is why it is often cheaper and better to hire a professional electrician like Gordon’s Powers to perform the task for you. This is because they have the top of the range tools and expert knowledge that will tackle the problem perfectly each and every time.